diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
index fde8e67..0f7d639 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@
 
 sp<LayerBaseClient::Surface> Layer::createSurface() const
 {
-    return mSurface;
+    sp<Surface> sur(new SurfaceLayer(mFlinger, const_cast<Layer *>(this)));
+    return sur;
 }
 
 status_t Layer::ditch()
@@ -152,9 +153,6 @@
     // the layer is not on screen anymore. free as much resources as possible
     mFreezeLock.clear();
 
-    // Free our own reference to ISurface
-    mSurface.clear();
-
     Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);
     mWidth = mHeight = 0;
     return NO_ERROR;
@@ -202,7 +200,6 @@
     int layerRedsize = info.getSize(PixelFormatInfo::INDEX_RED);
     mNeedsDithering = layerRedsize > displayRedSize;
 
-    mSurface = new SurfaceLayer(mFlinger, this);
     return NO_ERROR;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
index d9a8be3..2b38414 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
@@ -213,7 +213,6 @@
     ClientRef mUserClientRef;
 
     // constants
-    sp<Surface> mSurface;
     PixelFormat mFormat;
     const GLExtensions& mGLExtensions;
     bool mNeedsBlending;
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.cpp
index 86057f8..6025ed4 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.cpp
@@ -540,7 +540,9 @@
 
 LayerBaseClient::LayerBaseClient(SurfaceFlinger* flinger, DisplayID display,
         const sp<Client>& client)
-    : LayerBase(flinger, display), mClientRef(client),
+    : LayerBase(flinger, display),
+      mHasSurface(false),
+      mClientRef(client),
       mIdentity(uint32_t(android_atomic_inc(&sIdentity)))
 {
 }
@@ -557,12 +559,13 @@
 {
     sp<Surface> s;
     Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);
-    s = mClientSurface.promote();
-    if (s == 0) {
-        s = createSurface();
-        mClientSurface = s;
-        mClientSurfaceBinder = s->asBinder();
-    }
+
+    LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL_IF(mHasSurface,
+            "LayerBaseClient::getSurface() has already been called");
+
+    mHasSurface = true;
+    s = createSurface();
+    mClientSurfaceBinder = s->asBinder();
     return s;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.h b/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.h
index 184edd7..bfe92e6 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/LayerBase.h
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
 
 private:
     mutable Mutex mLock;
-    mutable wp<Surface> mClientSurface;
+    mutable bool mHasSurface;
     wp<IBinder> mClientSurfaceBinder;
     const wp<Client> mClientRef;
     // only read